CFLA works with Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) to address issues related to libraries, archives and cultural memory institutions; to promote initiatives in all types of libraries that advance and implement meaningful reconciliation; to monitor ongoing progress in those areas; and to promote collaboration across Canadian libraries, archives, and cultural memory institutions.
CFLA also produces resources, guidance and position statements. Our work is guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, which became law in Canada in 2021. CFLA published a Statement on Indigenous Knowledge in Canada’s Copyight Act in 2018.
In 2016-17 the CFLA Truth & Reconciliation Committee developed the Truth & Reconciliation Committee report, which was endorsed by the CFLA Board and shared with libraries across Canada who individually endorsed the recommendations.
These recommendations included forming a permanent committee on Indigenous Matters, encouraging libraries, archives and cultural memory institutions to implement the TRC 94 Calls to Action, addressing structural biases in schemes of knowledge organization, decolonizing libraries and space by recognizing and supporting Indigenous cultures, languages and knowledges, enhancing opportunities for Indigenous professionals and representation within the profession, implementing Indigenous Knowledge Protection protocols and agreements, highlighting best practices, and providing information about Indigenous organizations and groups committed to preserving cultural memory.
Libraries can refer to the following resources compiled by the Indigenous Matters Committee:
- Indigenous Canada 12-lesson MOOC, developed by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies, that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada, from an Indigenous perspective.
- UBC: Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education: free six week open online course offered by the University of British Columbia designed to promote self-paced learning. Information and next enrollment date.
- Let’s Talk about Reconciliation: The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), the National Film Board of Canada(NFB), the CFLA Indigenous Matters Committee and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) offered a series of dialogues about reconciliation in 2018.
- First Nations Metis and Inuit Indigenous Ontology.
- IBBY From Sea to Sea to Sea Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books.
- Living Bibliography as of 2022.
- Relationships and Contacts Database.